ASU SBDC wins SBA Excellence and Innovation Award 2025

SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Angelo State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been selected to receive the 2025 Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the SBA announced.

The ASU SBDC will be honored at a ceremony on May 5 in Washington, D.C., as part of the SBA’s annual National Small Business Week awards program. The award recognizes SBA-funded training and assistance partners for their impact on local economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurial support.

The ASU SBDC is the first entity in Texas to receive the award in this category. It was recognized for exceeding its 2024 goals in several areas, including:

• Total clients counseled, reaching 164% of its goal.

• Business start-ups and expansions, at 152%.

• Jobs created and retained, at 140%.

• Capital infusion, at 150%.

• Training attendees, at 193%.

• Number of training events, at 141%.

The SBDC was also honored for the individual excellence of its staff, the success of its client businesses, cooperative programs with the SBA District Office in San Antonio, its membership in the local Business Resource Center Economic Development Partnership, and its creation and implementation of the San Angelo Business Plan Competition and ASU BizPitch student entrepreneurship contest. The SBDC’s active engagement in ASU’s Norris-Vincent College of Business was also noted.

“The team at the ASU SBDC is honored to be recognized as a center of excellence and innovation,” said Dezaray Johnson, SBDC director. “This esteemed award illustrates how our team truly lives our Core Values in all that we do to support our small business clients. We could not have the successful programs that we do without the support of Angelo State leadership, community partners, and other fantastic SBDCs that all contribute to helping each other thrive.”

In fiscal year 2024, the ASU SBDC supported 76 small business start-ups and expansions through confidential advising services. It also hosted 113 training events and seminars, supporting the business education of over 1,900 attendees. This resulted in the creation and retention of over 390 jobs, and a capital infusion of over $6.75 million for the regional economy.

“Everything is bigger in Texas – including the remarkable impact of the ASU Small Business Development Center,” said Inessa Stepanenko, SBA deputy district director. “Earning the SBA’s 2025 SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award is an extraordinary accomplishment. This prestigious national recognition underscores the ASU SBDC’s steadfast dedication to supporting small businesses. Their commitment to delivering expert guidance, essential resources and unwavering support has profoundly impacted entrepreneurs across the region. The San Antonio District Office proudly applauds the small businesses and the SBDC in San Angelo for this well-deserved national accolade!”

Since opening in 1990, the ASU SBDC has served a 10-county region with a five-person staff and three ASU graduate students. It provides expert business advising and training to support start-ups and existing businesses in planning, financing, marketing and management. The SBDC is located downtown in the Business Resource Center and is affiliated with the Texas South-West SBDC Network. ASU graduate business students gain hands-on experience through internships at the SBDC, and students in all majors can participate in the annual BizPitch entrepreneurship contest.